Wash and hull the strawberries by removing the green leaves at the top with a small paring knife.
8 cups fresh strawberries
Puree 1 cup of the strawberries in a food processor or by mashing thoroughly with a fork.
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch, then add the water and strawberry puree. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 more minutes, until the strawberry mixture turns thick and translucent. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3 Tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup water
Meanwhile, cut any larger strawberries in halves or even fourths and place in a large bowl. Add the glaze and gently fold with a spatula until the berries are evenly coated. Fill the cooled pie crust with the strawberry pie filling, piling them into a mound and turning any cut sides to face down. If you want a "prettier" pie, you can arrange the strawberries in the pie shell first, then spoon the glaze over the top. Chill for 2 hours until set.
Prepare the whipped cream by beating the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth, thick, and nearly doubled in volume, forming soft peaks. Serve the pie with the fresh whipped cream within 5 hours of chilling for the best results.
1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract